Chelsea will face a formidable Cardiff City side tonight in the EFL Cup Quarterfinals hoping to advance to the next round of the tournament.
Who would you choose to start the game tonight?
Chelsea will look to extend their winning run against Cardiff City in the EFL Cup Quarterfinals tonight. Their formidable 2-0 victory against Everton last Saturday was a major morale boost for Enzo Maresca's men after a sluggish start to December.
The Blues played with intent throughout the game against the Toffees and looked like a confident side, a quality that had been lacking in previous games this month.
Cole Palmer looked like he meant business as he opened the scoring for the Chels despite his fitness issues, which, according to him, still persist. Malo Gusto, on the other hand, scored the second goal for the Blues after a brilliant pass to set up Palmer in the 21st minute.
The Blues manager is expected to change things up in his starting eleven tonight as he looks to rest a few of his starters, like captain Reece James, who has played the full 90 minutes in three consecutive matches.
Predicted lineup against Cardiff City
GK: Filip Jorgensen
LB: Josh Acheampong
CB: Tosin Adarabioyo
CB: Benoit Badiashile
RB: Jorrel Hato
CDM: Moises Caicedo
CDM: Andrey Santos
RW: Estevao Willian
CAM: Facundo Buonanotte
LW: Jamie Gittens
ST: Tyrique George
Danish Goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen is expected to start the game ahead of Robert Sanchez, and Tosin Adarabioyo will look to brush aside the recent criticism he's facing due to a bad run of games up until now.
Andrey Santos, scorer of Chelsea's first during their 4th round victory against Wolves, is also to start alongside Maresca's most trusted midfielder, Moises Caicedo.
Gittens is expected to get a start ahead of new signee Alejandro Garnacho, alongside Buonanotte and George, who could start the game tonight.
Chelsea's last five League Cup Quarterfinals
2014/15 | Derby County (A) | W 3-1 2017/18 | Bournemouth (H) | W 2-1 2018/19 | Bournemouth (H) | W 1-0 2021/22 | Brentford (A) | W 2-0 2022/23 | Newcastle United (H) | W 1-1 (4-2 on pens)
Chelsea's run to the quarter-finals:
Third round | Lincoln City (A) | W 2-1Fourth round | Wolverhampton Wanderers (A) | W 4-3League Cup scorers: George 2, Buonanotte 1, Estevao 1, Gittens 1, Santos 1
The Blues won their last encounter against Cardiff City 2-1 in the Premier League in 2019.
Last five meetings at Cardiff City
5 September 1981 | Division Two | W 2-1 (Mayes 2) 31 March 1984 | Division Two | D 3-3 (Lee, Spackman pen, Dixon) 28 October 1986 | League Cup | L 2-1 (Jones pen)11 May 2014 | Premier League | W 2-1 (Schurrle, Torres) 31 May 2019 | Premier League | W 2-1 (Azpilicueta, Loftus-Cheek)